In September 1996, the text for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was finally agreed at the United Nations in New York. By mid-October, a total of 125 countries had signed the Treaty although only 1 (Fiji) had ratified it yet. ALL the five official nuclear weapons states have signed. Of the three so called ‘threshold nuclear weapons states’ only Israel have signed, while India and Pakistan have not. Of the 44 countries whose signature and ratification is needed before the treaty can enter into force, all but four (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) have signed.

For the treaty to enter into force at the earliest possible opportunity (October 1998) all 44 countries on the entry-into-force list need to have ratified the treaty before the end of April 1998.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty ( CTBT )